B17 LANDING SALLY B RESTORED TO WARTIME CONDITION AT DUXFORD WAR MUSEUM.

Sally B is the name of an airworthy 1945-built Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress. It was delivered to the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) on 19 June 1945 as 44-85784, after being converted to both a TB-17G and then an EB-17G is was stuck off charge in 1954. In 1975 the Institut Géographique National in France bought the plane for use as a survey aircraft. In 1975 it moved to England to be restored to wartime condition as a memorial to the USAAF B-17 airmen who lost their lives in the European theatre. It is based at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, England.
The Sally B was used in the film Memphis Belle as one of 5 flying B-17s needed for various film scenes, and it was used to replicate the real Memphis Belle in one scene. Half of the aircraft is still in the Memphis Belle livery.
Since 1982, Sally B has been operated by 'Elly Sallingboe's B-17 Preservation' and maintained by Chief Engineer Peter Brown and a team of volunteers. The aircraft is flown by volunteer experienced professional pilots. In 2008, Elly Sallingboe was awarded the Transport Trust 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in recognition of over thirty years of dedication to the preservation and operation of Britain's only airworthy Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress as a flying memorial to the tens of thousands of American aircrew who lost their lives in her sister aircraft during the Second World War.
The B-17 was critical to the USAAF daylight precision bombing campaign and was armed with thirteen machine guns, hence the name "Flying Fortress".
Flying in formation, the Fortresses battled through German defences in daylight raids, suffering heavy casualties until the addition of long-range escort fighters, the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang, and the introduction of the twenty five mission limit.
Combat crews lives were measured in weeks rather than months but, despite the high casualty rate, B-17s became famous for returning home with terrible battle damage and were fondly regarded by their crews for this quality.
One of the key events in the flying calendar for Sally B is an annual tribute flypast following the Memorial Day service at the American Military Cemetery at Madingley, Cambridge. This takes place over the May Bank Holiday weekend. Flypasts over former Eighth Air Force bases are also carried out whenever possible during the summer months.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• SALLY B
• DUXFORD
• 92ND BOMB GROUP
• WW2

[TOPCAMERMAN]

Hi thank you for your comment I pleased you enjoyed the clip, you will find lots more B17 and WW2 clips on my channel enjoy.

Regards John TC.

[TOPCAMERMAN]

Hi thank you for your kind words as a matter of interest I am uploading six video clips of Duxford Air Craft Museum I hope you will enjoy my friend.

Regards John T.C.

[Excelsior2007]

There is just something beautiful and awe inspiring about the B-17. As a Life Member of the B-17 Supporters' Club which supports Sally-B, I am blown away every time i see this magnificent aircraft whether it is Sally-B or one of her sister ships.

[TheClaude35]

Superbe video.C'est super beau un B-17.*****5